Yeah, just saw it on NFL Network. Adam Shefter (sp?) announced it by reading the message from his phone - seems kind of informal but whatever. The people on the show seemed to think he is a good fit, saying Texans now have two athletic ends in the pattern of Indy. Let us hope to have similar success.
So... I gotta plead ignorance here. Is this guy worth a crap? Did we just sign another bogus contract? I get the feeling this is epic fail... as this guy's stock was probably never higher than when we signed him.
Texans to sign ex-Cards DE Smith Former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Antonio Smith cashed in on his team's trip to the Super Bowl by landing one of the top defensive end contracts in the past couple of years. Smith, according to a source, agreed to a five-year, $35 million contract with the Houston Texans on Saturday that will pay him $24 million over the first three years of the contract. For the former fifth-round pick of the Cardinals who didn't get a start until his second season, this deal is a reward for a rapid climb as one of the best defenders in the league. The 27-year-old Smith will receive $15.5 million this year and $19.4 million over the first two years of the deal. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive lineman has also shown his versatility through the years. He's played in a 3-4 defense the past couple years for the Cardinals, but he's also been successful when the Cardinals used a 4-3. In five seasons in Arizona, he had 14½ sacks. Over the past four years, he's averaged 41 tackles a season. John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3942383&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines Antonio Smith (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) is the prototypical defensive end for the 3-4 defense. He has the size and strength to hold his ground at the point of attack, occupying two offensive linemen and keeping his linebackers clean. He doesn’t leave all the dirty work to the linebackers, however, as he’s bagged more than 40 tackles in each of the last two seasons. Smith also brings plenty to the table as a pass rusher. He has nine sacks over the last two seasons; last year, no Chargers D-lineman registered more than two. During the season, Amberly Richardson -- a former SDBoltReport.com reporter who is now the publisher at AZRedReport.com -- talked with Arizona Cardinals franchise player Karlos Dansby about Smith. “He’s one of the top three-techniques in the game right now for defensive ends,” said Dansby of Smith. “He has a lot of potential and he still has a lot of growing [to do]. He hasn’t even hit his prime yet.” Smith, 27, is the kind of player typically targeted by GM A.J. Smith during free agency. Antonio is a proven commodity who comes with a high ceiling and a low price tag, at least compared to the likes of Albert Haynesworth and Julius Peppers. It also helps that Smith has more quickness and athleticism than the other defensive linemen on the Chargers roster -- essential attributes in the eyes of new defensive line coach Don Johnson, formerly of the Chicago Bears. Smith would fit into San Diego’s 3-4 defense seamlessly. In fact, during the 2008 Senior Bowl, Cardinals defensive line coach Ron Aiken talked to SDBoltReport.com publisher Michael Lombardo about the numerous similarities between San Diego’s 3-4 scheme and Arizona’s hybrid defense. Aiken was not at this year’s Senior Bowl to elaborate -- he was too busy readying his troops for an appearance in Super Bowl XLIII. Perhaps, with the addition of Smith, the Chargers coaches could find themselves in a similar situation next season. To read what some current Cardinals players have to say about Smith, courtesy of interviews by Amberly, check out the Insider Message Boards. http://sdg.scout.com/2/836181.html Career Stats Tackles Sacks Interceptions Fumb. Misc. KO Ret Punt Ret Year Team G Solo Ast Total Sack Yds Yd/Sk Int Yds IntTD Rec 2004 ARZ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 2005 ARZ 11 16 0 16 3 16 5.3 0 0 0 0 2006 ARZ 16 15 10 25 3 9 3.6 0 0 0 2 2007 ARZ 16 38 6 44 7 46 7.1 0 0 0 3 2008 ARZ 16 31 10 41 4 24 6.9 0 0 0 3
I think it may be a another bogus contract. 41 tackles last year and only 3.5 sacks and we were suppose to be looking for someone opposite Mario with a pass rush/able to get to the QB. Hmm, hope this isnt the bad FA move of this year like years past a la Ahman Green 2 years ago, Jacques Reeves, Chris Brown and Roosevelt Colvin last year. All we can hope for is more production out of Smith than Weaver, or else another bad contract for the next few years.
I edited in his stats , the numbers aren't that impressive but he did play in 16 games each of the last 3 years. Did he platoon with LaBoy?
DE Antonio Smith Signed and Offseason Talk w/video <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4zwD7sInLXM&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4zwD7sInLXM&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I don't think you can say that the Cards defense has a system like the Ravens. I kinda like this pickup because it gives the Texans some options with the draft rather than maybe having to reach to pick one up.
This is a good signing. I'm looking forward to it working out. Now we need to grab a safety or CB early. They could also go with a LB to help our corps out. I'm really feeling good about our options. Orakpo really would've been nice, but I don't think he would've fallen to fifteen. If he does though, it will be hard to pass him up. Perhaps we can trade down a couple of spot to net another second or third. I'm really liking the moves of the front office so far.
I don't know much about Andre Smith so I hope he is better than Weaver was and helps pressure the QB. How is this contract money wise, it doesn't seem too bad, certainly not crippling, hope he performs up to it. Welcome aboard Andre Smith.
When I say he is the third rated d-end, I actually meant to say the third rated d-lineman in free agency.
The top 50 players in free agency Pat Kirwan By Pat Kirwan | NFL.com Senior Analyst 1. Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee Titans -- Haynesworth will be the highest-paid defensive tackle in football shortly after free agency starts. He hasn't played a 16-game season since 2002, but he is a difference maker. 2. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR, Cincinnati Bengals -- Houshmandzadeh is a fine second receiver who will be paid like he's a No. 1 receiver. Age is becoming an issue, but he can help a number of teams. 3. Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals -- Warner led his team to the Super Bowl and is going to the Hall of Fame someday, but the Cardinals have a generous offer close to $10 million a year on the table and he may want more. He may find out that the best offer is right in his lap. At his age, two years is as far as any team should go. 4. Bart Scott, LB, Baltimore Ravens -- Scott's age and solid play make him a better bet to play the length of the contract he signs as compared to teammate Ray Lewis. 5. Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens -- Someone is buying a legend and he brings a lot to the table, but he is better off staying in Baltimore. Teams can't buy leadership. 6. Derrick Ward, RB, New York Giants -- He reminds me of when Chester Taylor went to the Vikings. He can be a feature back, but better serves his team as a role player. No matter where he winds up, if he gets 250 carries then he will rush for 1,000 yards. 7. Jason Brown, C, Baltimore Ravens -- There is a lot of interest in this young inside lineman who can play guard or center. 8. Antonio Smith, DE, Arizona Cardinals -- Smith had a good year in Clancy Pendergast's hybrid defense. He hit free agency at the right time with half the Cardinals staff going to Kansas City. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80ef3b80&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true
I wasnt impressed by his numbers at first but then I realized he plays mostly in a 3-4 and those sack number are pretty decent in that type system. I am thinking he has a shot at like 6 sacks a season on our line. I think with this signing, they should go after an outside linebacker capable of getting sacks.
If we stand pat at #15, I think we look at either Cushing or Matthews out of USC. There is no safety or cornerback that is worth taking at 15. I watched Vontae Davis at the Combine and came away unimpressed. We could trade down and take him later in the 1st round. I don't really know how I feel about this signing. Whenever I watched the Cardinals play, Darnell Dockett was the one who always seemed to be making plays. I knew Antonio Smith was out there, but he never really seemed to do much. Sorta like Weaver.
The two DT's that are guaranteed to go in the 1st round are B.J. Raji and Peria Jerry. I haven't read much about any others.
Raji and Perry will both go in the first round and Raji in the top 12. There's more 3-technique 1-gap DT than 0-technique 2-gap NT.
